Espresso Maker Suggestions

[atomicsmoke]

You won't find a true espresso maker for 200$. Maybe a machine that makes strong coffee but not espresso.

I have a delongi superautomatic. About 1000$ in Canada. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny. Has intregrated burr grinder, milk frotter (makes lattes without you). It is a rabbit hole. When the first one broke (after many years of use) and the service shop told me it would take 3 weeks to fix it i went straight to costco and bought another one. Thats not an indication of my finances but tells you how awesome and addictive a true espresso is (much like bbq)-you cant live 3 weeks without it. Another interesting point: no one in my family questioned the purchase of the 2nd machine (we always disagree on things to buy). Now i have a working spare and dont plan to sell it.

I got a few people hooked up once they taste it and left deep holes in their pockets. No one called me to complain.

As for coffee...find a source of whole bean coffee that roasts when you order. After 2 weeks roasted coffee loses a lot of flavour. I buy large batches and freeze it.

 

[atomicsmoke]

Forgot to mention Breville Barista. Is a manual machine you will need to figure things out....but costs less. A friend swears by it and is having the time of his life experimenting.

 

[Displaced Texan]

You won't find a true espresso maker for 200$. Maybe a machine that makes strong coffee but not espresso.

I have a delongi superautomatic. About 1000$ in Canada. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny. Has intregrated burr grinder, milk frotter (makes lattes without you). It is a rabbit hole. When the first one broke (after many years of use) and the service shop told me it would take 3 weeks to fix it i went straight to costco and bought another one. Thats not an indication of my finances but tells you how awesome and addictive a true espresso is (much like bbq)-you cant live 3 weeks without it. Another interesting point: no one in my family questioned the purchase of the 2nd machine (we always disagree on things to buy). Now i have a working spare and dont plan to sell it.

I got a few people hooked up once they taste it and left deep holes in their pockets. No one called me to complain.

As for coffee...find a source of whole bean coffee that roasts when you order. After 2 weeks roasted coffee loses a lot of flavour. I buy large batches and freeze it.

Is this the machine you are talking about?

 

[Buttah Butts]

The nepresso sucks. Go with a super automatic machine. I had the gaggia anima prestige for a while worked great and just upgraded to a Jura S8. Check out wholelattelove.com or James Hoffmann on YouTube.

 

[pushok2018]

Forgot about this and there are some HUGE fans:

Dito! I have Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine - stopped using it three years ago.... Also I have Nespresso Pixie - decent not expensive machine and I still use it occasionally. For last two years I use AeroPress Origianl Coffee and Espresso Maker and use Lavazza coffee beans. Love it.

​

 

[jcam222]

Think I spent another hour this morning looking. I don't really want to go the pod route but maybe should re-think it.

I’ve had many machines for espresso with around a $600 Breville last. I don’t do espresso anymore as I got to a point where it was just to much for me. I will say that for the money and simplicity Nespresso with pods is delicious. The frothier they sell is fool proof too.

 

[jcam222]

The nepresso sucks. Go with a super automatic machine. I had the gaggia anima prestige for a while worked great and just upgraded to a Jura S8. Check out wholelattelove.com or James Hoffmann on YouTube.

That’s a great machine if you are that into espresso and can afford it no doubt. That said he mentioned a budget of $200

 

[Displaced Texan]

I want to buy a new espresso machine for my coffee shop. Can you suggest some good ones that are commercially promising? Is Hamilton Beach Espresso Maker a good one?

Good luck, I hope you get an answer. I asked about what machine he used back in August and never heard back.

 

[bill1]

I've asked two different Starbucks "barristas" and if I recall correctly, they said theirs cost $35,000 each. No, I'm not kidding. So there's a huge price range when you get to commercial grade.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I had got one of those $100 ones. Works decent. Just not used in long time. I like the Cuban espresso. I may get it back out. If you want a good one from I been told going to cost a lot.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Shopping espresso machines and most of the DeLonghis are too tall to fit under my cabinets. Looks like it will be a Breville for me most likely.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I started just using the AeroPress that someone had mentioned. I don't make espresso very often.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Delivered today. Breville Dual Boiler and Smart Grinder.

 

[schlotz]

Well that’s a monster but looks like you had counter space to handle it. Can water be plumbed to it or just fill up the tank by hand?

 

[robrpb]

Delivered today. Breville Dual Boiler and Smart Grinder.

View attachment 655849

Very nice machine. I'll have a double shot please.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Delivered today. Breville Dual Boiler and Smart Grinder.

Nice. You made me break out my cheap cozeemax espresso machine. Actual works pretty decent. Used it to make Café con Leche

 

[Displaced Texan]

Well that’s a monster but looks like you had counter space to handle it. Can water be plumbed to it or just fill up the tank by hand?

No, it has a tank that you can remove to fill or you can fill it from a pop open door on top near the front. Very easy.

 

[Buttah Butts]

Delivered today. Breville Dual Boiler and Smart Grinder.

View attachment 655849

Nice machine. I looked at that one but I’m too lazy and went with a super automatic machine instead.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Nice machine. I looked at that one but I’m too lazy and went with a super automatic machine instead.

Yes, this machine will take some dialing in for sure.

 

[Hockeydudde]

Nice choice.
The separate grinder is the way to go vs the integrated one they have.